APPROVED
PLAN COMMISSION
February 4, 2010
Members Present: Ray Knapp, Jan Cuccia, Joe Duerre, David Wolf, Mark Mitchell, Paul Mahler
Members Absent: Bob Rolle
Staff Present: Wendy Sander, Cedar Corp., Bert Peterson, Cedar Corp.
Recording Secretary: Sharon Weide
Others present: Charlie Macdonell, Jill Berke, Brian Schwab, Todd Bjerstedt
Call to Order
Ray Knapp called the meeting of the Town of
AGENDA:
1. Approve Minutes;
Minutes of the December 3, 2009 Plan Commission were
reviewed.
Mark Mitchell
moved to approve the minutes of the December 3, 2009 Plan Commission
meeting. Joe Duerre seconded. Motion passed, all in favor.
2. Building Permits/Utility Permits;
There were no utility permits. Members of the committee were asked to review
the list of building permits outside of the meeting.
3. Riverway concept review/public hearing for a variance or conditional
use permit to add seven feet to master bedroom– Douglas & Ann McMillan, 272
E. Salishan Dr.;
Ray Knapp reported that Doug McMillan had contacted
the town staff and said that based on feedback from St. Croix County Planning
and Zoning he was not sure if he was ready to move forward with his
application. Mr. McMillan requested that
his application not be heard at tonight's meeting pending his decision.
4. Review of
the draft comprehensive zoning ordinance;
Charlie Macdonell reported that the final meeting of
the Comprehensive Zoning Code Committee (CZCC) was held January 12, 2010 and
that the CZCC has produced a preliminary draft of a Comprehensive Zoning Code
(CZC) for the town. The draft has been
forwarded to members of both the Plan Commission and the Town Board. The purpose of the discussion this evening is
to highlight CZC issues and provide an opportunity for questions and
answers.
Prior to beginning the discussion Charlie commended
the CZCC for their hard work and dedication to the project. He personally thanked Todd Bjerstedt, Joe
Dillingham, Dan Pearson, Bob Rolle, Sue Warren, Gloria Wahrenbrock, Mark
Mitchell, Roger Humphrey, and especially Wendy Sander and Bert Peterson.
Charlie went over the process that the Town Board and
the Plan Commission will follow so that the project can be brought to an
interim conclusion. Members of both the
TB and the PC are to thoroughly review the CZC draft and identify any
suggestions or concerns they have along with any editing changes that may be
necessary. Using the worksheet that
Charlie has provided these changes are to be submitted to Charlie via the
office staff by March 15.
Charlie explained that there were eight zoning
districts created during the process. Some
of the guidelines and concepts used by the CZCC during the process for each of
these districts are:
·
Traditional
Residential District
o
These areas are
those that are higher in density than the residential areas created today. The CZCC felt strongly that they did not want
create non-conforming residential properties, but there will be no plan to
expand these areas.
·
Agricultural
Residential District
o
This district
emphasizes cluster development and open space as laid out in the Subdivision
Ordinance. There is a distinction made
as to use between various size lots.
·
Exclusive
Agricultural District
o
This section
strives to maintain and protect agricultural land and promotes the TDR program
·
Industrial
District
o
The CZCC
anticipates limited use of this district and emphasized light manufacturing.
·
General
Commercial District
o
This district
allows for new commercial activity and would provide a mechanism to locate a
·
Traditional
Commercial District
o
This establishes
an area to contain and maintain existing commercial activities.
·
Conservancy
District
o
Establishes a
district to facilitate the preservation of natural areas and parks.
·
Manufactured Home
District
o
Provides an area
for manufactured homes under specific zoning regulations.
Additional sections of the zoning code covering the
regulations and administration that are necessary in all zoning were also
discussed. These sections include, but
are not limited to signage, traffic, parking and access, home occupations,
non-conforming uses and conditional uses.
Finally, the performance standards, Board of Appeals, and administrative
sections were discussed.
Throughout the entire presentation members of the Town
Board and Plan Commission were free to ask questions. There was considerable discussion during the
explanation of each of the zoning district in order to clarify which district
existing structures, subdivisions and businesses would fall under.
At the conclusion of the discussion members of the
Plan Commission and the Town Board commended the CZCC for their hard work. Ray Knapp asked if there was anything else
the CZCC wanted to make sure was discussed.
Wendy Sander emphasized that the Plan Commission think of real life
situations and look for what will not work under the guidelines of the
CZC. Todd Bjerstedt said that he felt
that the document does a pretty good job of addressing scattered
businesses. He added that given the
current economic conditions he can't envision much commercial development in
5. Committee Reports & correspondence;
Jan Cuccia shared that the
town and Baldwin Telecom (BTI) were going to submit a joint application for a
grant from the federal government to install fiber optic cable for high speed
internet access to each household. She
explained that the application guidelines are out and that BTI will be
submitting the application. Ray Knapp
added that the application is due by March 15 and that BTI is well known by the
federal government for its quality work.
He expects that the grants will be awarded in the early fall and that
the project will need to be completed within two years.
Ray Knapp reported that
around April 1st Coulee Trail will be closed at Highway 35 so that the overpass
can be constructed. Construction will be
completed by the fall.
6. Adjourn;
Jan Cuccia
moved to adjourn the February 4th Plan Commission meeting at 8:55 PM. David Wolf seconded. Motion passed, all in favor.